Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the latest installment of the African Cup of Nations as DR Congo take on Morocco in Group C. Congo’s preparations for the tournament in Gabon have been anything but smooth, with a row over unpaid player bonuses hindering plans considerably. The players even went on strike on Friday, and refused to train. Hardly Ideal. Morocco coach Herve Renard won the tournament with the Ivory Coast last year, so he has all the knowhow to succeed. I’m Pete Hall, and I will be bringing you the action, as it happens, live!
TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations / Group Stage
Stade d'Oyem / 16.01.2017
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- J. Kabananga(56')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 16/01/2017 at 20:56 GMT
15'
Mehdi Carcela-González whips a free-kick into the middle, up gets Manuel da Costa, but he gets too much on the header, and the ball flies over the top.
14'
Herve Kage tries to bulldoze his way through for Congo, but two defenders manage to steal the ball off him.
12'
Finally, Congo threaten, with Bakumbu running in behind, but there is too much on the pass, and Munir Mohan Mohamedi in the Morocco goal is out to gather.
11'
Congo cannot get near the ball. Benatia makes a timely interception to snuff out a Morocco counter.
9
Karim El Ahmadi has time to centre the ball, but gets his cross all wrong, as he balloons harmlessly over the bar.
8'
Morocco seeing all of the ball, with Boussoufa again the outlet down the right. The Al Jazira player wins the corner.
6'
Aziz Bouhaddouz makes space for the shot in the box as Morocco come again, but he slices well wide on the Congo goal.
5'
Boussoufa whips a dangerous-looking cross into the back post, but it is cleared. Really good pressure from the Atlas Lions.
4'
Congo enjoying more of the ball now as they try to relax into the game after the shock of their woodwork being rattled.
2'
CROSSBAR! Almost the perfect start for Morocco, but Mbark Boussoufa's curling effort from fully 25 yards comes out off the crossbar. Ley Matampi was beaten in the Congo goal.
1'
Morocco get us under way. Four draws so far, with just the one victory. Let's hope for more entertainment than the earlier Group C encounter!
18:56
Let's hope for more of this!
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Riyad Mahrez scores stunner for Algeria against Zimbabwe
18:48
Morocco's chances of success have been hit by an injury list that includes midfielders Sofiane Boufal and Younes Belhanda. Medhi Benatia of Juventus and Napoli's Omar El Kaddouri are the most recognisable face to European football followers.
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Image credit: Eurosport
18:45
Yannick Bolasie is a huge loss for Congo, with the Everton forward missing through injury. There are some recognisable faces for English football fans, with Newcastle's Chancel Mbemba and Norwich City's Youssouf Mulumbu starting. Villarreal striker Cedric Bakambu will be one of DR Congo's main threats in attack and boasts a number of strengths that make him a versatile talent.
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Image credit: Reuters
18:36
TEAMS - CONGO: Matampi, N'Sakala, Zakuani, Tisserand, Mpeko, Mulumbu, Bope, Mbemba, Mubele, Bakambu, Kabananga. /// MOROCCO: Munir, Benatia, Da Costa, Saïss, Dirar, El Ahmadi, Boussoufa, Mendyl, El Kaddouri, Bouhaddouz, Carcela.
18:34
This is Herve Renard’s fifth AFCON as manager – he's only lost one of his 19 games (W8 D10). The Morocco boss is the only one to have won the tournament with two different teams (Zambia in 2012, Ivory Coast in 2015).
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Image credit: Eurosport
18:33
This is Morocco's 16th AFCON participation. Their only title dates back to 1976, when they beat DR Congo (Zaire as they were then called) in the group stages (1-0). Also, Morocco have failed to make it out of the group stages in six of their last seven AFCON participations, the only exception coming in 2004 when they were beaten finalists against Tunisia.